Thank you thank you thank you for all of the comments. I have loved reading them. They've made me smile :) I feel a big responsibility now carrying on with the Paily fic now that lauren-case's has ended (It was amazing, wasn't it? :) go tell her if you haven't yet), but I hope I will be able to give you all some entertainment until we get our show back (1 month from today!).

I should say that this was going to be an even longer chapter, but as I kept writing, I realized this was already a pretty long chapter so I figured I should go ahead and post this first bit now.

Chapter Six

The next morning, Paige woke to the sound of Emily's alarm, high pitch and blaring, at 530am. She had set her own, but she figured there was no use waiting for it to go off. They both silently pulled themselves from bed as Emily took off to the bathroom, and Paige dressed in her sweats.

Paige sighed as she pulled on her shoes and tied her laces just as Emily returned to the room, exchanging an awkward glance with her. Paige was starting to realize that unless she let things change between them, every single one of their mornings was going to be filled with these uncomfortable interactions. And there were so many mornings to go.

Signaling with her hand, Paige let Emily know she was going to head to the bathroom where she brushed her teeth and splashed water over her face. Wiping the water from her face with a towel, she examined her reflection in the mirror.

By now, Paige knew Emily must be starting to think she either hated Emily or was a complete antisocial, neither of which were actually true. However, she didn't know how to explain something like that without talking to someone, so she surrendered to the fact that this was what it would have to be from now on.

There was also this part of her that hated that she cared what Emily thought. Deep down, she wanted Emily to like her, and it only solidified for Paige that she needed to keep away.

Later, as they quietly made their way towards the Natatorium, Paige was reviewing her schedule for the day in her mind. Microeconomics and then after lunch, Linear Algebra and some class on the Byzantine Empire she had fit in as a general ed requirement. It would make for a longer day, but Tuesdays and Thursdays meant evening swim practice along with the mornings, so she had tried to load up on Mondays and Wednesdays to make those days easier on her. She had brought a change of clothes so she could go straight from practice to her 10am class.

"Do you want to exchange numbers?" Emily asked, interrupting Paige's thoughts all of a sudden.

Paige looked up, and she was sure the expression on her face showed her surprise at the question because Emily looked away and began fumbling for words. From the start, Paige was always amazed at how unassuming Emily actually was. When they had been introduced the first time, Paige had instantly expected her to be something different. She had known the type in high school. Girls who knew they were pretty and used it against people, put others in their place, and got what they wanted because of it. Paige was still shocked that by now Emily hadn't simply told her off. But Emily seemed so completely unaware of the effect she could have on people, of the fact that Paige felt like she was coming apart on the insides whenever she was around her, so she felt terrible knowing that everything Paige did, every deflection, every sparse conversation, every technique Paige had garnered to fight this thing happening in her, Emily seemed to take to heart.

"I just was thinking, we were both out this weekend, and I just thought, you know, in case something ever happened. Just for safety," Emily emphasized, as if making sure Paige knew she would never try to call her otherwise.

"Yeah, sure."

"What's your number?" Emily asked, reaching for her cell.

As Emily flipped on her phone, Paige noticed another image of Emily and Maya appeared on the screen. They were turned to each other in this one, smiling. They looked like they didn't need anything else in the world but each other. They looked happy.

Paige felt a pit in her stomach. She had seen some of her friends go through a few serious relationships, some they were still in and some they had sobbed over when they ended, but Paige still hadn't experienced it yet, that feeling of being that close to someone, knowing them inside and out, putting them before everything. She had always wanted to know what that was like, to not feel alone.

Paige recited her cell number for Emily who quickly punched it in her phone and filled in 'Paige McCullers.'

"I'll text you and then you'll have mine," Emily said as she typed in on her cell.

Paige nodded as she reached for her own phone from her pocket and let it beep as Emily's message arrived. She flipped it open. All it said was simply 'Emily's number.' Paige added it to her phone.

They didn't say much the rest of the walk towards practice. Paige kept thinking about the photo on Emily's phone. She was curious about this girl who had Emily's heart. She wondered what she was like, how they had met, why the other girl was in California when Emily was right here. Even though Paige had never been in a real relationship, she still couldn't imagine being that far away from someone for so long. Even though she had a million curiosities about them, Paige kept her mouth closed and didn't say a word. After how things had been going, she knew she couldn't ask without Emily thinking she was only being a jerk about it.

The Natatorium was filled with the echoes of screeching whistles, loud shouts, and splashing water as practice played out that morning. While Emily had been in such a nervous frenzy on Saturday to notice any of the other teammates, today she finally had a chance to observe them as they did their timed strokes. She finally realized now why Coach had singled out her and Paige as her strongest freshmen.

Emily knew she had pushed herself to the max the last two years of high school to earn the spot where she was now. She's broken records at Rosewood, gone to state, overcome her own limitations, and found out she was capable of far more than she ever expected of herself.

But here, watching Paige, she saw something different from her own hard-earned skills. She saw something innate, natural, almost primal about the way she cut through the pool. It was like Paige's body was made for the water. She was incredible to watch. Emily even found herself almost missing her cue to dive in for another lap as she got caught up in studying Paige. She felt her cheeks turn red, not even sure what she was so embarrassed for.

Emily had decided to run home after she showered to get ready before class. She had looked for Paige to see if she wanted to walk with her, but overheard her telling another girl she was heading straight to her Econ class. Emily ended up hurrying back by herself, getting dressed and drying her hair quickly before making her way across campus, map in hand, bag slung over her shoulder, taking deep breaths to keep her nerves in check.

When she stepped into the Forum Building where her Introductory Psychology class was to be, there was already a hectic crowd of students milling around. She wandered around the first floor, checking door numbers until she finally found one that read 102 and reached for it.

Stepping inside, Emily found herself instantly overwhelmed. The lecture hall was bigger than any she had ever seen. It was slanted down at least 30 rows with the bottom level situated with a podium and an enormous projector screen showing the class information and the professor's name. She could tell the room probably fit several hundred people, and about half of the seats were already filled with more students moving up and down the steps looking for empty spots.

Emily froze in place, not even knowing where to start, and wishing that she and Hanna had made more of an effort to get at least a class together. More students were coming in the door frantically as class was getting close to starting, and Emily suddenly felt someone bump into her roughly from the back, nearly knocking her over. When she regained her balance, she looked up to see a tall boy who began to apologize profusely before his friends pulled him towards a few seats a few rows away.

"Better find a seat before you end up being a road block," a voice called out.

Emily looked over to see a girl sitting a few seats into a nearby row, smirking at her. With jet black hair cropped to her chin, bright blue eyes, and a thin frame, she kind of reminded Emily of a pixie. She was wearing tight black jeans, Converses and an oversized shirt that swam on her small body.

"Too late for that," Emily replied laughing. "Is that seat taken?" she asked, motioning to a spot next to the girl.

"All yours!" the girl replied, lifting her bag off the chair and setting in on the ground to make way for Emily.

"Thanks," Emily said, as she took the empty seat and pulled out her notebook.

"Can you believe how many people are in this class?" the girl asked incredulously, her blue eyes wide with excitement.

"I thought I was just in Pamplona for the running of the bulls," Emily quipped, smiling.

"Don't worry. I hear after the first day, people quit coming. I'm Jessica, by the way." She extended her hand dramatically, and Emily shook it, smiling again.

"Emily."

As Emily examined the girl more, there was something about her that reminded her of a mix of Aria and Spencer, with Aria's crazy individuality and sense of style along with Spencer's self-confidence. She noticed that around the girl's neck was a professional digital camera that she seemed in tune with, like it was just another part of her body.

She watched as Jessica whipped out her cell phone and clicked a few buttons before holding it up in the air at herself. It took a moment for Emily to realize that the video was running on the phone.

"So this is my first class of the year," Jessica exclaimed, as she filmed herself before doing a 360 view of the classroom. "All of these people are here to learn what it means to be me every day. Totally mad crazy."

Emily laughed out loud, before Jessica swung the camera around to face her.

"And this is Emily! Who I've known for about two seconds."

Emily laughed. "What are you doing?"

"Say hi!"

"Hi!" Emily replied, waving at the camera with a smile before turning back to Jessica. "Who am I saying hi to?"

Jessica turned the phone back to herself briefly, waving and blowing a kiss, before shutting it off and turning to Em.

"My boyfriend," Jessica told her, her eyes lit up. "He wants to know what my first class is like."

"That's really cute."

"He's down South for school. Charleston. I miss him already."

Emily nodded. "I know exactly what you mean. My girlfriend is in California," Emily said, without thinking twice. Somehow she just knew it would be okay to tell Jessica.

"God, that's so far!" Jessica exclaimed.

"I know," Emily said, frowning just thinking about how Maya was thousands of miles away from her.

"Are you from there?"

"She is. She moved here a couple years ago. "

"That's so funny. My boyfriend too. But he still has his little Southern accent, which is really what did it for me," Jessica explained, grinning at even the thought of her boyfriend. Emily thought it was the sweetest thing, mainly because she knew exactly how she felt. "So are you a freshman too?" Jessica asked.

Emily laughed. "You can't tell?"

"You mean because of that look of complete trepidation when you were trying to find a seat?" Jessica deadpanned before smiling.

"Yeah. That," Emily said back before the two broke into laughter together.

As class started, Emily felt the lights dim slightly so the screen was more visible and the professor started on a diatribe on the biological basis of behavior, on learning and cognition. Emily feverishly took notes as she tried to keep up. Psychology was another thing she was curious about as a major, and so she hoped to at least get a good idea of it from this class in order to make a better decision when the time came.

She saw a folded piece of paper fall onto her notebook and looked up to see Jessica next to her smirking out of the corner of her eye.

Emily unfolded the paper. What's her name?, it read.

Who? Emily scribbed back and tossed the paper on Jessica' desk.

Your girlfriend, the note said when it returned.

Emily smiled broadly as she wrote, Maya.

All at once, Emily felt a sense of ease come over her for the first time since she got to school on Friday. After all of the events that had transpired over the weekend, along with seeing everything for both Hanna and Maya naturally falling into place right away, she had come to fear that the entire year, she was going to feel like an outsider, that she wouldn't find her place, that except for her calls with Maya and hanging out with Hanna, she would be alone. But now, sitting next to Jessica, her energy almost contagious, she felt like she had finally met someone that she really clicked with, who knew exactly what she was going through with Maya, who seemed interested in getting to know her.

It seemed like maybe everything would be okay.

Across campus, Paige settled a few minutes early into her Microeconomics course. It was one of the smaller classes on campus, only about 40 to 50 people since no one had to take it but those studying Economics. Her body was already feeling hunger setting in. She hadn't eaten that morning before practice, and after three hours in the pool, she was starving. She pulled out her phone and texted Pru about meeting after class for lunch before their Byzantine Empire class. Right about now, Pru would probably be just pulling herself out of bed, having planned herself an empty schedule for Monday mornings. Paige had laughed when Pru had told her the schedule she had created a few months ago, but at least Pru had been realistic.

In a second, her phone buzzed back with a message from Pru agreeing to meet her in an hour at The Hub.

Putting her phone back away, Paige looked up and in her viewline, she saw Collin Jerrett standing in the doorway, spotting her with his shining blue eyes. He smiled charmingly, and Paige felt herself wince internally. There weren't enough people in this classroom to get out of this one, and so she forced a smile as he made his way over to her and slid in to the seat beside her just before the professor began his lecture.

"Paige, right?" he asked.

She simply nodded. When she turned back to grab for a pen from her bag, Paige saw a girl in the row in front of her flash her a jealous stare and laughed to herself. It wasn't that she didn't know Collin was a good-looking guy, but except for Pru mentioning him on Saturday, she hadn't even thought of him since she had met him Friday night.

"Collin," he reminded her.

"I know," Paige assured him, and this seemed to please him. "I didn't know you were an Econ major."

"Minor. My major's Anthropology."

The answer actually piqued Paige's interest. She had expected something like Business or Finance, but before she had a chance to ask more, the lecturer had begun.

After class, Jessica and Emily meandered through the crowded quad. Since it was the first day of class, every student group on campus had set up informational booths.

As they passed by a set, Emily noticed a booth with a bright rainbow flag on display. She had slowed to a stop, Jessica beside her, as she leaned in to look at the name on the table. Pride Alliance. Emily had no idea there was a group like this at PSU and found herself interested in what they might be about.

"Hey, Emily. I think I spotted the booth for the Collegian. I'll be right back," Jessica said, grabbing Emily's elbow and squeezing it before taking off.

Emily simply nodded. After Emily had asked Jessica about her camera on the walk over, Jessica had told her about being a Photography major and how she had thought about getting some work taking photos for the school paper, the Collegian. She admitted it wasn't her passion, news photography, but she heard that they paid decently whereas she had little hope yet of making much on her art photography.

"Hey! You interested in the Pride Alliance?" a voice rang out, lifting Emily's gaze from the table and up to a blonde girl approaching her with a broad smile. She was tall and undeniably pretty, with her hair in waves around her shoulders and sky blue eyes. It caught Emily off guard for some reason, but she recovered quickly.

"Yeah, this is cool," Emily told her, nodding. "My high school was so small, we didn't have anything else like this."

"Well, feel free to sign up for our email list. Take a ribbon," the girl said, pointing to a pile of rainbow colored ribbons on the table. "Informational pamphlet. A stack of them if you want. They gave me thousands so I'm trying to pawn them off," she added smirking.

Emily smiled in return. "Thanks. I think I'll go with a ribbon," she said, reaching for one. "I'm Emily."

"Samara," she replied, pushing a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. "You know, we try to put together a few events during the year. Mostly speakers, but a few social events too. You should come."

"That sounds like fun."

"Yeah," Samara nodded. "You can… bring your girlfriend too," she added, her eyes fixing on someone behind Emily.

"What?" Emily turned her head to see her new friend chatting up the editors of the Collegian, and Emily realized that Samara had been referring to Jessica.

"Oh no. That's not…" Emily shook her head insistently. "That's Jessica. I just met her today."

"Oh," Samara replied, her eyes brightening slightly.

"My girlfriend goes to school in California actually."

Samara nodded. "That's cool," she said, her voice slightly less inspired.

Just then, Jessica bounced back over to Emily's side, smiling brightly. "Ready to eat?"

Emily turned to her, nodding. "Yeah. Jessica, this is Samara. She's in charge of the Pride group."

"Hey!"

Samara smiled. "You should tell Emily to come to one of our events. You too. They're open to everyone."

"Definitely. I'll see what I can do," Jessica replied as she began pulling Emily away from the table.

"It was nice meeting you, Emily," Samara said smiling.

Emily tilted her head back before Jessica could get too far with her. "You too."

As soon as they were out of hearing distance, Jessica turned to Emily.

"Oh my god. She was so into you!" Jessica exclaimed.

Emily rolled her eyes. "She was not. I mean, she thought you were my girlfriend."

"Wait." Jessica stopped mid-walk, turning to Emily. "She asked if you had a girlfriend?"

Emily shrugged. "Sort of. I don't know."

Jessica shook her head disapprovingly. "Trouble. I can spot it a mile away."

"Like I have time for Pride events anyways. I practically live in the pool." Emily insisted casually, but her mind wasn't calm. She considered what Jessica was asserting, and the idea of it felt strangely unsettling. She had never thought about another girl liking her besides Maya. She had never even considered it. Sure, she knew there had to be other girls at college who were gay, but it never occurred to her that she'd meet any that would be pretty and nice and interested. She had noticed right away that Samara's eyes seemed to be glued to her, that she didn't notice the other people approaching the table while they were talking, that she had kind of zeroed in on Emily instantly. Yet, she had tried to shrug it off, convinced herself that Samara was just being nice, until Jessica knocked it right on the head when she came out and said it.

Next to her, Jess linked arms with Emily and tugged her towards The Hub where they had planned to eat lunch. "Well, when you're not in the pool, you'll be with me. Now come on, I want to hear all about Maya."

Emily smiled. Maya. It didn't matter if someone else liked her. She loved Maya. And it felt good getting the chance to tell someone every single reason why.

"So what exactly do you do with an Anthropology degree? If you don't mind me asking," Paige asked, looking up at Collin walking beside her as they headed out of the building where their class had been held.

"You can do a lot, but I'm thinking about city planning."

"That sounds cool. You'll have to tell me what's that about sometime," Paige told him before realizing what she might have been suggesting, that she might have let him think she wanted a date. Paige panicked as she searched for words to recover. "Ya know, since we'll be in class together for a while."

Collin smiled, not discouraged in the slightest, his eyes never leaving her face. Paige fidgeted uncomfortably.

"Do you want to grab lunch with me and some friends?" he asked.

"Oh. I'm actually meeting Pru," she told him, forcing an apologetic look.

He didn't miss a beat. "That's good actually. Jacob won't shut up about her," he said before realizing. "I probably shouldn't have said that."

Paige smirked. "Don't worry. I won't let on." She wasn't lying. The idea of seeing Pru squirm about Jacob, debating whether he liked her or not, could offer her weeks of entertainment that she didn't want to give up.

Collin smiled, satisfied that he had gotten a yes from her to lunch.

Just then, Paige spotted Pru standing outside the Hub. Pru immediately recognized the figure next to Paige and raised her brow, flashing her a grin that said, I told you so.

Tray of food in her hands, Emily slid into a booth inside the bustling Hub across from Jessica, setting her bag down on top the table. Earlier, as she headed through the checkout line, she had pulled out the rainbow ribbon and tied it around the handle of her bag, smiling to herself that she felt comfortable enough to do something like that. Now it was displayed prominently, and she didn't even mind.

Jessica had been chattering in line about her boyfriend Wyatt and finished explaining how they'd first hated each other until they were partnered for driver's ed training and went from being mortal enemies to inseparable to madly in love.

When she finished her tale, she bugged Emily again about her other half, and Emily told her all about Maya, about how they had met, abut their first kiss and how confused Emily had been, how Maya had waited for her patiently until she was ready. As the words poured out, it made Emily feel both nostalgic for all those good times, when everything seemed so perfect, and sad that Maya was now so far away from her.

As the conversation moved along, Jessica let her know that the Collegian thing could be a go, but they wanted to see a portfolio.

"That's great, right?" Emily asked.

"Yeah. For sure. I just kind of want to update it a little before I send it in. I was thinking, you should let me take some photos of you sometime."

"No way. I'm so not a model," Emily objected, shaking her head.

"Yeah right. You're not far off," Jessica countered with a laugh.

"I wouldn't even know what to do."

"You don't do anything. I do all the work. It'll be fun. I swear."

She had a feeling Jessica wasn't going to relent, and she figured maybe she was right. Maybe it would be fun. She liked hanging out with Jessica, and as she explained more, she made it seem like the only difference would be the camera in her hands. She'd make it super natural. So ultimately, Emily agreed.

Just as she nodded her head, consenting, her eyes caught a glimpse of a figure going through the checkout line with a tray of food. Her auburn hair was unmistakable even already. Next to Paige was her friend Pru. They were turning to each other talking, and Emily knew Paige hadn't noticed her yet.

"What are you looking at?" Jessica inquired, breaking Emily's stare.

Emily turned her gaze to Jessica. "Nothing." Off Jessica's disbelieving look, Emily continued. "My roommate."

"What's her name?" Jessica asked, turning her head and following Emily's gaze over to her.

"Paige."

Jessica lifted her hand, and Emily could tell she was just about to shout out Paige's name when Emily reached out and pushed her hand down.

"She doesn't want to sit with us." Emily insisted.

"Wow. Already clawing at each other's throats?"

Emily sighed. "More like tacit avoidance."

"Didn't hit it off?" Jess asked with a frown.

"It's complicated."

"It got complicated in three days?"

Emily shrugged, trying to play it all off. "She just didn't expect someone like me for a roommate."

"Someone like you. Someone who is ridiculously pretty and an absolute doll?"

"Someone who's gay," Emily replied, with a mix of sadness and embarrassment at finally admitting what she had tried to deny for a few days now, hoping it wasn't really the truth where deep down she knew it obviously was.

Jessica's eyes narrowed. "Forget her."

Later, Emily and Jessica had finished up lunch and parted ways so that Jessica could get to her class across campus. Emily had another course nearby and took the side door out of the Hub where crowds of coeds were gathered, eating lunch.

As she crossed the small quad, she caught a glimpse of Paige sitting with Pru and a few boys, none of whom she recognized. Paige had a bright smile on her face as she told a joke and everyone around her broke into laughter. They were all having a good time. Emily couldn't help but noticed that one guy in particular, a blonde, had cozyed himself up pretty close to Paige and was watching her as she spoke. It looked like Paige had already garnered herself an admirer, Emily thought to herself. It was only the first day, but Emily didn't find herself surprised. There was something about Paige, something wildly mysterious that tugged at you.

Emily found herself lingering for a moment, listening to Paige's laugh. She'd never heard it before. The sound of it was dry and earthy, and the energy of it ran through her.

As she watched the scene play out, Jessica' words came back to her. Forget her. Emily repeated them to herself, willing herself to take her eyes off of Paige and leave. Forget her.

So why couldn't she?

"I'm going to tell him to ask you out," Pru said to Paige with a scheming eye as they both founds seats in their Byzantine Empire class.

They had spent lunch with Collin and Jacob, along with a few other guys they were friends with, and Paige had to admit that they had all had a good time. Collin was a funny guy with a sweet personality, and they had all spent the hour laughing. But there was no way that she could convince Pru that that didn't mean anything.

"Don't, Pru," Paige said. She had meant for it be more lighthearted than it came out.

"Why not? He's into you."

Paige nodded. "I know," she murmured dejectedly.

"You don't think he's hot?"

Paige shrugged nonchalantly, avoiding Pru's eyes. "I just don't think I have time right now."

"But you have time for what?" Pru asked, reaching for a pamphlet that Paige had picked up from a student group booth on their walk over to class. "Penn State Investment Association? What is that even?"

Paige snatched it away defensively. "It's the first day of school, Pru. Can we just get settled in before you start with the arranged marriages?" Paige bit back at her.

"Fine!" Pru replied, exasperated, as she finally gave up.

Paige slumped down in her seat as the professor started droning on about the Romans. Just as she felt herself dozing, her phone buzzed in her bag. She reached for it abruptly before the professor noticed and clicked off the sound. Looking at it underneath the desk, she saw that it was from Emily. She felt her heart speed up as she clicked open the message.

Just wanted to let you know I'm going to head to the pool later.

Paige sighed as she realized that Emily was really going to so much effort to make sure Paige didn't have to see her. All day, Paige had been wondering how Emily's first day was going, if she was settling in to her classes, if she was meeting people. Now, as she sat hunched over in the back of her own class, Paige found her mind kept wandering back to Emily and each time, she tried to push her back out, choosing to focus on the lecture, on Pru's constant whispered interruptions, on anything else.

Sitting there, Paige decided she would study at the library that night, grab some dinner with Pru to break, and return for a few more hours until she was sure it was late enough for her to get straight to bed without any interactions with Emily. It wasn't what she wanted (she couldn't even let herself begin to grasp what she actually did want), but she told herself this wasn't about what she wanted. That was the whole point. It was about what she had to do.